Africa

PRESBITERI IOHANNIS SIVE ABISSINORUM IMPERII DESCRIPTIO

Code: M3801

Cartographer: Ortelius Abraham

Date: 1585 Antwerp

Size: 37.5*43 cms

Very attractive and sought after map. Shows the central African kingdom of the mythical Christian king, Prester John, who according to legend provided a stronghold against Barbarians and was an ally to the Crusaders.

Ortelius designed this map himself using geographical information including Gastaldi's 1564 map of Africa. The mythical twin lakes of Zaire and Zaflan are shown as the origin of the Nile, with the Mountains of the Moon located as the source of the lakes. It includes two pair of large elephants in the interior and sea monsters and an Arabic ship (dhow) in the Atlantic with two large strapwork cartouches, one enclosing the title and the other with text of the legend. The dedication is to King David, with a long geneology tracing Prester John's lineage back to that of the biblical king. French text on verso.